A Place of Connections:How Interior Design Can Assist in Community Development

Kristin OverMaster of Arts in Interior Design

This is to certify the written portion of the thesis prepared by Kristin A. Over, titled A Place ofConnections: How Interior Design Can Assist In Community Development has been approved by hercommittee and satisfactorily completes the thesis requirements for the degree of Master of Arts inInterior Design at Harrington College of Design.

Completed April 20, 2012

Approved: Date:

. 20· Ie..Constantine Vasilios, AlA, NCARB, NCIDQ I Committee Chair

~~&t Whitmore,PhD: I Reader

4. 1-.0. 'ADI 2_

A Place of Connections:

How Interior Design Can Assist in Community Development

Kristin A. Over

Master of Arts in Interior Design

April 2012

Harrington College of Design

200 West Madison | Chicago, Illinois 60606

To anyone who has ever felt disconnected from their home, family or community.

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Acknowledgements

The past three years have been an extraordinary journey and it is my pleasure to

thank all those who made this thesis possible. I will begin with my committee members. First,

I would like to thank Constantine Vasilios. As a mentor, he made available his time and

support in many different ways. Without all of our conversations that both inspired and

confounded me, I would not have pushed myself academically or as an artist. Constantine

has the ability to thoughtfully listen and guide you down your own path and for that I am truly

grateful. With an artistic eye and intellectual mind, Constantine was able to see my designs

and understand my arguments even when I was in my most confused state of mind. This

instilled an immense amount of confidence in me. It gave me the strength to continue the

pursuit of my personal design process. Next, I would like to thank Janet Whitemore, whose

cheerful smile, warm hugs and assuring comments that research is in fact hard work got me

through many rough patches. Her enthusiasm for ideas and expansive wealth of knowledge

added to our many exceptional discussions about the topics of public housing, Paris, history

and architecture. I am grateful for John Kelly, whose excitement and thoughtful feedback

was greatly appreciated. Our meetings and discussions about my plans and drawings

allowed me to formulate many of my ideas into a concrete design that articulated my

concept. His energy and design philosophy brought a new perspective to my project. Finally, I

am happy to give thanks to Henry Zimoch. During my semester of case studies, I contacted

Henry because he was the lead architect on the renovation of Dearborn Homes. Initially, I

was hoping for a brief interview but Henry was incredibly generous with his time and

organized a private tour of Dearborn Homes. It was during this time, when I was able to

personally experience a public housing apartment building beyond the photographs. This

experience resonated very deeply with me and influenced many of my design decisions.

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Hearing Henry’s stories of what Dearborn Homes was like during its darkest days compared

to how the residents feel about their homes after the renovation was truly inspiring. He is

passionate and thoughtful, which made handing over the first draft of my thesis all the more

easy. I would also like mention the people who took the time to speak with me about my

thesis and whose influence helped shape the path I took. Thank you to: Roberta Feldman,

Stanley Tigerman, Catherine Baker, Johnathan Coates and Dominique Marrec. Each

interview was a memorable time spent with practicing professionals, who are intellectually

stimulating, artistically driven and compassionate towards others.

In addition to all of the mentoring and guidance I received from my committee and

advisors, I would like to thank a few of my closest cohorts. To Sabreen Basith, Ryan Ross,

Manuel Navarro-Soto and Erin Costello, thank you for all of the times spent laughing, joking

and lamenting about school at Stocks and Blonds, for being supportive on the nights when

projects seemed incredibly overwhelming, and for your encouragement during some very

“interesting” critiques. Also, thank you to all of my family members, whose advice, support,

and being consistently impressed with my work made me smile on a regular basis.

Finally, last but not least, I would like to thank Arthur Garcia-Clemente. Your

enthusiasm for design and unrelenting attention to detail has the ability to transform a

project, which I was able to witness first hand. Without your many hours of support and

dedication I would not have been able to fully express my most personal ideas in the design.

Our many conversations about theory, philosophy, architecture, and interior design

challenged me to push my thesis beyond the superficial realm and into something more

thought provoking. Little by little you supported me in every way possible and I will be forever

grateful. Thank you.

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Table of Contents

List of Figures v

Abstract viii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: Connecting A Site to A Building 5

Site Design 5

Landscaping 7

Chapter 2: Connecting A Building to People 13

Façade Messages 13

Programming Diversity 16

Scale and Location of Common Areas 17

Chapter 3: Connecting People to A Community 23

Neighborhood Identity 23

Building History 25

Site Design & Landscaping 27

Common Area|Large Scale | Atrium 29

Homes: 32

Atrium Apartments 32

Courtyard Apartments 33

Conclusion 36

Figures 40

Bibliography 70

v

List of Figures

Figure 1: Photographer Unknown, Dearborn Homes, Chicago, IL, pre-2011 renovation, http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d834518cc969e20115709e30fe970b-320wi

Figure 2: Viewsheds From the Four Selected Vantage Points of Robert Taylor Homes, Kuo, Frances E., Magdalena Bacaicoa, and William C. Sullivan. 1998. "Transforming inner city landscapes: Trees, sense of safety, and preference". Journal of Planning Literature. 13 (2).

Figure 3: Mean Preference and Safety Ratings for the Three Tree Densities of Robert Taylor Homes, Kuo, Frances E., Magdalena Bacaicoa, and William C. Sullivan. 1998. "Transforming inner city landscapes: Trees, sense of safety, and preference". Journal of Planning Literature. 13 (2).

Figure 4: Site Plane of Woodlawn Center South Phase 1, computer rendering http://landonbonebaker.com/housing/new-affordable/woodlawn-center-south/

Figure 5: Woodlawn Center South Phase 1 development, computer rendering http://landonbonebaker.com/housing/new-affordable/woodlawn-center-south/

Figure 6: Residents Gardening at Dearborn Homes cr. 1950, J.S. Fuerst. When Public Housing Was Paradise: Building Community in Chicago, (Westport, Ct: Praeger, 2003)

Figure 7: Photograph by author, Dearborn Homes, Digital Photograph, 2011.

Figure 8: ECDM Architects, Paris France | Rue de Picpus | Site Plan Diagram,

http://ecdm.eu/?p=205

Figure 9: ECDM Architects, Rue de Picpus | Ground Level, http://ecdm.eu/?p=205

Figure 10: ECDM Architects, Rue de Picpus | Inner Courtyard, http://ecdm.eu/?p=205

Figure 11: Photographer Unknown, Dearborn Homes during pre-façade constructions phase, Dearborn Homes, Chicago, IL, pre-2011 renovation, http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d834518cc969e20115709e30fe970b-320wi

Figure 12: Photographer Unknown, Dearborn Homes with façade updates, Dearborn Homes, Chicago, IL, pre-2011 renovation,

vi

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d834518cc969e20115709e30fe970b-320wi

Figure 13: Benoit Fougeirol, Paris, France | Rue de Picpus, Public Housing Apartments,

Digital Photograph, http://www.e-architect.co.uk/paris/rue_de_picpus_housing.htm

Figure 14: Chicago, IL | Woodlawn Center South | Cottage Grove Street view, computer

rendering, http://landonbonebaker.com/housing/new-affordable/woodlawn-center-

south/

Figure 15: Woodlawn Center South | Resident Parking & Alley view, computer rendering,

http://landonbonebaker.com/housing/new-affordable/woodlawn-center-south/

Figure 16: Diagram for 8House,

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/11075/big-architects-8-house-under-

construction.html

Figure 17: ‘8’ House | Café and pedestrian walk, http://www.dezeen.com/2010/08/20/8-

house-by-big/

Figure 18: Image by author, Neighborhood Site Research Diagram, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 19: Image by author, Analysis of Community Services and Neighborhood Amenities,

Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 20: Image by author, Building to Site Relationship, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 21: Image by author, Section Analysis, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 22: Image of plant cr. 1915, “A Trip Through the New Schulze Bakery”, Baker’s Review 32(1915).

Figure 23: Photograph by author, Existing Conditions | Façade, Digital Photography, 2011.

Figure 24: Image by author, Diversity in Programming, Digital Medium, 2012.

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Figure 25: Photograph by author, Exterior Details of Exisiting Conditions, Digital Photography, 2011.

Figure 26: Image by author, Site Plan Illustration, Pencil and ink on vellum and pen on paper, 2011-2012.

Figure 27: Photograph by author, Interior of 5 story and 3 story buildings | Existing Conditions, Digital Photography, 2011.

Figure 28: Image by author, Main Floor, Digital medium and pen on paper, 2012.

Figure 29: Photograph by author, Historically Significant Staircase and Column Detail, Digital Photography, 2011.

Figure 30: Image by author, Elevation and Plan of Atrium, digital medium and pen on paper, 2012.

Figure 31: Image by author, View of Atrium garden and fountain, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 32: Image by author, View of the Atrium from the second floor, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 33: Image by author, View of the mural, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 34: Image by author, Two Bedroom apartment, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 35: Image by author, One Bedroom apartment, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 36: Image by author, A four bedroom apartment, Digital medium and pen on paper, 2012.

Figure 37: Image by author, Entry and Plan, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 38: Image by author, Entry to Living Room, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 39: Image by author, Kitchen to Living Room, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 40: Image by author, Staircase to Living Room, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 41: Image by author, Entry to Kitchen, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 42: Image by author, Kitchen to Dining, Entry and Living room, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 43: Image by author, Entry to Dining Room, Digital Medium, 2012.

Figure 44: Image by author, Dining room, Digital Medium, 2012.

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Abstract

The thesis titled A Place of Connections: How Interior Design Can Assist in Community Development was researched, written and completed by Over, Kristin, MAID from Harrington College of Design in April 2012. This thesis examines how traditional methods of community development can be

affected by including the professional practice of interior design. Traditional methods of

community development typically address the urban scale, including site planning,

landscaping design and architecture. However, the methods by which people make

connections with their communities can be directly correlated by the way in which we

connect with our homes. Research was conducted in the fields of urban planning, sociology,

public housing, and senior housing. Case studies in Chicago include Robert Taylor Homes,

Dearborn Homes, and Woodlawn Center South. One case study, Rue de Pipcus was

conducted abroad in Paris, France. The common denominator among the case studies is that

they are designed communities where residents can receive government funded rental

assistance. The lessons learned during researching site plans, landscaping, and architecture

developed a design language, which translated into the interior design of a final project. The

final design project intricately weaves the site, building, homes, and community together into

one thriving place for people to interact. Consideration of the intimate details is something

interior designers deal with on a consistent basis. By taking the traditional methods of

community development and designing from the inside out, I was able to consider the path

someone would take from their car to the mailbox, to the front door, into the living room, up

the stairs, to the bathroom to where their tooth brush rests. The following thesis articulates

how the interior design profession can greatly contribute to development of a community.

1

Introduction

The desire to connect with other people motivates us to belong to a community. In

fact, making connections with other people is the essence of humanity because that is what

we are ‘neuro-biologically’ wired to do.1 An individual coming in contact with others at a

variety of scales, such as sites, buildings and homes, is essentially what forms a communal

environment. Add civility, neighborliness, and pride into the equation and a harmonious

community is what emerges. A community that forms out of the pursuit of a common ideal or

goal is one that has the ability to transform individuals and their experiences. Armed with the

understanding that humans desire relationships with one another, a case can be made for a

design which can increase the possibilities of interactions among people. We want to make

certain that connections are made at each level of scale: site, structure and the interiors.

Diversifying the possibility of connecting to others and varying the degrees of intimacy of the

interactions between people can add value to a community’s identity. A community that is

designed in a way that can enhance these key components of connecting people and scales

can thrive harmoniously.

How we define community will determine how we go about designing for one. We

must first consider the very dichotomy that the concept of community presents. The dual

nature of the word first appears when breaking the word down into its roots. The preposition,

“com” is Latin for “together,” which implies that more than one is needed in order to join

“together. “Unus” in Latin translates to “one.”2 The idea is simple: an individual unit that

joins other individual units in order to make up one large collection of units. Or in other

words, one plus many equals one.

1 Brene Brown. “The Power of Vulnerability,” Filmed June 2010. Ted video, 2:57-3:26.

2 Mary F. Rousseau. Community: The Tie That Binds. (Lanham, Md: University Press of America 1991), 3.

2

There is another element to the word community and that is “unity”, which can also

be defined as “harmony”. This is a key component when looking at how to successfully

design a place where people can establish relationships and connect with each other and

the neighborhood. A group of many buildings situated on one site does not mean it is a

community. That is akin to saying a group of many people at a large shopping center is a

community. In the past, the dominant design approach for a community typically dealt with

the larger scales such as site and building but it has become apparent that we need to look

beyond the site design and architectural design and into the experience from within the

building in order to better design for positive community development.

If a new definition of community is formulated, we can then rethink how we design for

one. By taking the breakdown of the word and reworking the ideas we can redefine

community to mean, a group of willing participants who harmoniously come together as a

collective of individuals. By maintaining the concept of an individual coming together with

others the essence of the definition still remains but with the addition of the idea of harmony

we can then begin to explore the different scales and contexts in which harmony can be

expressed in the design for a community.

Since this is a new working definition of the word community a further analysis can

be explored. The idea of being a “willing” participant is important and should be considered

when designing for a community. In order for a group of people to come together

harmoniously, the participation needs to be of the individuals’ own volition and they must

work towards a positive ideal for the community. If a person is manipulated or the collective

has taken away the individuals identity the community can cross over into a cult-like

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environment.3 Forced participation is not an element of the new definition of community,

therefore, the individual needs to be a willing participant. Individuality is applied to the

definition because without the individual we cannot have a collective. The loss of identity for

an individual among a group of people brings about a different concept of community; gangs,

which are rooted in negativity and have the ability to destroy the spirit of entire

neighborhoods.4 A harmonious community can only exist when the individual is not forgotten.

A collective identity is adopted but the personal identity must be interwoven into the

community. Finally, the thread of harmony that weaves the group of individuals into a

community is the very essence of what it means to design for a community. The possibility of

interactions among individuals through a variety of connections can lead to a feeling of

familiarity, which can manifest into harmonious relationships.

With this concept of community in mind, we can start to see where the pitfalls lie

when only design for community at the site and building scale. In the past the emphasis has

been put on the site design and building layout in relation to the site. Imagine if we gave the

interiors of the buildings and homes the same level of importance during the design process.

A whole new set of parameters of community design would open up and the understanding

of interactions among residents would become more in depth. A more complex expression of

connections can be explored beyond the relationship of the site to the neighborhood and the

building to the site. Interior design brings the perspective of the person from within the space

to the design process and adds to the dialogue of designing for a community. The purpose of

this thesis is to demonstrate the importance of the interior in designing for communities at

all levels.

3 Jean-Marie Abgrall. Soul Snatchers: The Mechanics of Cults, (New York: Algora Publishers), 10. 4 Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh. American Project: The Rise and Fall of a Modern Ghetto, (Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard

University Press, 2000), 132.

4

First, we will look at how site design has played a role in the past and how shifting the

approach to site design from the vantage point of the interiors can alter the design process.

It is important to understand the views from our living room windows can have a large impact

on how we feel about our community. Next the approach of building design and programming

of the interiors will be explored. We will see what has been done from an exterior perspective

and how that can affect the interior design. For example, the diversification of programs

within a residential building that includes commercial spaces can impact the connection the

neighborhood has with the residents of the building by offering a larger home for a

community. The third inquiry is one that addresses the interior program from an approach

that explores varying scales of common areas within the building, as well as the communal

areas within the individual apartment units. Another factor in this exploration is interior

circulation. We must consider the route a person will take in order to get their mail, visit a

neighbor, or go from their front door to their bedroom, and how that can alter our interactions

with the larger community.

Finally, the application of the previously mentioned design assessments will be

applied to the design of a community. The lessons learned from site planning, building

messages, scales of programming and circulation routes are expressed throughout the

design project both inside and out. The community designed is an expression of how interior

design can facilitate connections among individuals, which can contribute in the

development of a harmonious community.

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Chapter 1: Connecting the Site to the Building

Site Design:

The existence of community on a variety of scales is undeniable. One of the larger

scales of community is the urban scale, which generally speaking are the relationships and

connections the metropolis has to its counties, districts, wards, neighborhoods,

infrastructure and the buildings that make up the identity of those landscapes. Take for

example Chicago’s relationship to its surrounding neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its

own personality, goods/services, cuisine and for some, their own professional sports team.

At the same time, each neighborhood owes some of its existence to the core of the City of

Chicago, making Chicago a ‘city of neighborhoods’. When you ask Chicagoans where they are

from it is likely they will tell you the neighborhood they live in rather than an address. The

sense of pride, identity and community manifests itself when someone says, “I live in

Wrigleyville”, “I live in The Gold Coast”, or “I live on The South Side”. But what comes to mind

when someone says, “I grew up in Robert Taylor Homes”, “I live in Dearborn Homes”, or “I am

relocating to Woodlawn Center South”? Stereotypes that form in response to the identities of

neighborhoods are also capable of forming in response to the identities of residential

buildings; unfortunately, the stereotypes are also capable of changing from ones that reflect

positive or uplifting messages about the community, to ones that convey negative or violent

messages.

Residential buildings have the ability to shape and mold a group of people into a

community; but a collection of many buildings coming together on one site is only the back

drop to a community, not its identity. The way in which a building connects with the

immediate site and surrounding buildings can have a profound effect on the way people

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connect with their homes. Take this account of the initial site planning phase for Dearborn

Homes in Chicago, IL, by John Ducey, who was the CHA Director of Planning from 1941-

1948:

When Dearborn Homes was in the planning stage, one of the people in the Planning

Department, Reinhart Lesser, came up to me and said, “John, I am hesitant to mention it, but

Loebl, Schlossman and Bennett came up with a horrible site plan for the project.” I said, “Tell

me about this. I don’t see anything wrong with it.” “Well, they’ve lined up their buildings like

soldiers on parade. The angle to the sun is all wrong.” It didn’t mean anything to me. But

then he explained it. And in addition to that, the architects used up too much of the site. This

project was in the center of a slum area that didn’t have enough school facilities or park

facilities… So he drew me a new site plan, and there were eight acres left over that we could

make available for school and park use.5

In this example, what had originally been done with the site planning was more in tune with

how the buildings were positioned on the piece of property rather than how the residents

were going to interact with the site (Figure 1). After reorganizing the layout of the buildings to

free up more acreage, the Chicago Housing Authority was able to negotiate terms with the

Chicago Parks District to share their park land with the Chicago Public Schools. This allowed

both facilities to co-exist on the same site as Dearborn Home public housing development,

which resulted in a thriving community for many decades.

Initially the first designers of public housing sought out more usable outdoor space,

which influenced the building of high rises.6 Going vertical meant more open land on the site

to use for landscaping. This approach can be seen in the planning phases of Robert Taylor

Homes. The plan set aside acreage for public spaces such as park areas and playgrounds,

waterways and ponds, and winding pathways that moved throughout the natural

5 J.S. Fuerst. When Public Housing Was Paradise: Building Community in Chicago, (Westport, Ct: Praeger, 2003)

14. 6 Kuo, Frances E., Magdalena Bacaicoa, and William C. Sullivan. 1998. "Transforming inner city landscapes:

Trees, sense of safety, and preference". Journal of Planning Literature. 13 (2): 31.

7

landscapes.7 “Federal officials at the Public Housing Authority rejected this variegated design

because it exceeded the cost guidelines…only 7 percent of the ninety-six acres, and apart

from two parks areas, the remainder was nonutilizable or “dead” space, mostly of concrete

and asphalt for which no use was intended or specified”.8 What are people supposed to do

with “dead” space in a housing area? It can be argued that Robet Taylor Homes were initially

designed with the good of the people in mind; however, those altruistic intentions were

dashed before the project even broke ground. It set the stage for many causes contributing

to the failure of the homes.

Landscaping:

Elements such as poor planning due to inefficient funds, lack of maintenance and

neglect can take hold of the site and turn it into an inhospitable place. Take for example this

eye witness report on the site of the Harold Ickes Homes, “In May 1995 we witnessed a

stunning example of poor maintenance in these buildings: A janitor was pushing a dumpster

with a huge hole in the bottom out of a building in the Homes. As the janitor pushed it, he

scattered trash all over the grounds, but during the time we watched, he made no effort in

cleaning up the mess he was creating”.9 Similarly, in Robert Taylor Homes, the missed

opportunity to plan and landscape the site for better quality of life resulted in the physical

destruction of the homes due to the higher than normal rate of use in the common areas of

the buildings. Children were using these areas as places to explore, learn and play, places

7 “The earliest proposed design made creative use of the assigned two-mile-by-two-block corridor for Robert Taylor

by incorporating eight story high-rises and two-story apartment buildings. The plan set aside acreage for public

spaces such as park areas and playgrounds, waterways and ponds, and winding pathways that moved through the natural landscapes.” Venkatesh. American Project: The Rise and Fall of a Modern Ghetto, 17-19. 8 Venkatesh. American Project: The Rise and Fall of a Modern Ghetto,19. 9 Popkin, Susan J. 2000. The hidden war: crime and the tragedy of public housing in Chicago,(New Brunswick, NJ:

Rutgers University Press), 95-97.

8

such as: stairwells, laundry rooms and elevators.10This doesn’t exactly describe a

harmonious community working to maintain a site that was designed to be open and

welcoming. In fact, the landscaping of a site has a tremendous affect on the way people view

their neighbors and their community.

There is strong evidence that within urban and built environments, accessibility to

nature and visibility of natural landscapes supports physical and physiological health. The

results of improved mental health of individuals living near natural landscapes shows

patterns of healthier social connections, more positive relationships between residents, and

less aggression.11 Evidence suggests that a view of nature from within a home is one of the

main factors of an enhanced personal well being. A study conducted during the mid-1990s

with the residents of Robert Taylor Homes, Chicago Housing Authority administrators, and

Chicago Housing Authority police illustrates the different interpretations of landscaping. The

study revealed that the residents were enthusiastic about the inclusion of trees and overall

improvement of landscape maintenance. Conversely, the administrators were discouraged

and concerned about the cost and expenses associated with upkeep and the police officers

argued that criminals could hide in the trees.12 The approach taken with this study was to

show a group of residents simulated views of their courtyard landscaped with varying

vegetation densities from numerous vantage points within the buildings (Figure 2). This was

done so that the entire courtyard could be evaluated with an unbiased perspective. The

results of this study shows that the residents respond very positively to having numerous

trees and maintained grass areas (Figure 3). An interesting piece of evidence to consider is

10 “Elevators, stairwells, lobbies, hallways, parking lots and alleyways, garbage cans, and laundry room became

veritable playgrounds. Each possessed a particular set of hazards, which would add to their enjoyment. Parking

lots were strewn with broken glass and power lines lay dangerously low; train tracker were boarded by steep

concrete embankments and cars sped quickly through alleys; hallways and stairwells were the domain of gambles

and drinkers. “Venkatesh. American Project: The Rise and Fall of a Modern Ghetto,25-25. 11 Kuo, Bacaicoa, and Sullivan. "Transforming inner city landscapes: Trees, sense of safety, and preference”, 31. 12 Kuo, Bacaicoa, and Sullivan. "Transforming inner city landscapes: Trees, sense of safety, and preference", 36.

9

the conclusion that the residents were overwhelmingly willing to participate in the greening

process of their homes; the residents volunteered to help plant and take care of the trees in

their courtyard.13 Here we have an example of a group of individuals expressing a desire to

harmoniously work together in order to better their own community.

The findings in the study done with Robert Taylor Home are not the only examples

that exist to support site design and community development. During the early years of

public housing communities in Chicago, landscaping and site maintenance by the residents

was encouraged and supported by the Chicago Housing Authority site managers. One

example in particular illustrates the level of pride and sense of community felt by former

residents of the Ida B. Wells homes. The story told by Oscar Brown Sr., who was a manager of

Ida B. Wells in 1941 is an example of using landscaping as a platform for the creation of an

active community.

Brown recalls, “Praise gets a lot of things done. We made them think that flowers

were something fine. So all of them wanted to plant flowers. The place had flowers

everywhere. Where there was a vacant space they’d say, “Mr. Brown, can I have this

space to plant my flowers?” They had flowers in the windows, flowers everyplace. So

much so that the people outside Wells who had thought it was going to deteriorate

the neighborhood said after two or three years, “You’ve improved the neighborhood.”

I didn’t do it. They did it. They planted the flowers, washed the windows, rolled the

babies.” 14

Brown’s story shows us what can transpire when a group of people are given the opportunity

and encouraged to come together and take care of their homes. The simple act of planting

flowers will result in a more dynamic landscape, a stronger community among the residents

and provides a positive gesture to those living in the neighborhood.

13 Kuo, Bacaicoa, and Sullivan. "Transforming inner city landscapes: Trees, sense of safety, and preference", 56. 14 Fuerst and Hunt. When public housing was paradise: Building Community in Chicago, 11.

10

A collection of buildings can be thoughtfully arranged to consider their relationship to

one another, and results in more land being available for parks, playgrounds, pathways and

schools. This begins to lay the groundwork for an engaging community. Thoughtful

landscaping designs that address proper tree densities, maintained lawns and garden beds

for people to use illustrates the importance of designing a site in order to facilitate

connections among residents and the neighborhood, building and home. Woodlawn Center

South is an example of a residential building site that was designed from the very beginning

to connect the residents living within the development to the neighbors surrounding the area

(Figure 4). Private yards and public play grounds provide different opportunities for residents

to interact with one another either through the act of planting a garden, chatting over the

fence or watching their children play (Figure 5). By providing different layers of outdoor space

the residents can then be encouraged to be active members of the neighborhood.

One approach to changing the current perception of a site is to imagine the current

area at ground level as a clean slate and for a moment mentally removing the buildings and

apartments.15 Afterwards, an assessment can be made of the site and an evaluation made

of what should be kept, like large trees and outdoor spaces, and what should be removed,

such as patches of concrete. 16 This approach can be seen illustrated in the recent

renovation of the Dearborn Homes site (Figure 6). Dearborn Homes is an example of a

development that has had its share of hard times. Historically, it was a diverse housing

development where residents were encouraged to participate in the landscaping and site

development (Figure 7). However, during the years spanning the decades of late 1970s

through the 1990s, Dearborn Homes, and several other public housing communities fell into

a state of ruin. In 2011, the Dearborn Homes site was enhanced with updated turf and

15 Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 394. 16 Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 394.

11

equipment for the tot-lots which can be seen by many of the interiors of the apartments.

There was a complete interior gut rehab and an exterior façade adornment. Landscaping was

improved and new trees were planted throughout the site, while keeping intact the older

trees that lined the perimeter of the area.

Another approach to this idea of a clean slate for a site can be seen in the site plan

of Rue de Picpus in Paris, France (Figure 8). In this example, the architects were able to start

with an empty site, however, due to the many code restrictions in Paris, the architects were

presented with a challenge. The challenge was to beautifully and seamlessly integrate a

public housing apartment building into the surrounding neighborhood while still being

respectful of the Haussmanian architectural language. The decision to elevate the two 6-

story apartment buildings resulted in direct sight lines from the street into the common

courtyard (Figure 9). As a pedestrian on the street, one can peak into the courtyard and see

children playing, or look just beyond there and catch a glimpse of the roses in the hidden

garden. The building encourages a visual and experiential connection with the neighbors. The

architects may not have included any landscaping on the site but the decision to include

balconies for the apartments gives people the option to landscape and personalize their own

space (Figure 10).

As we can see, the attention to detail of site planning and landscaping can be directly

correlated with the identity of the community and the connections made among the

residents. The perspective of the site from the exterior is the traditional approach to

designing for a residential community of buildings; but it can be argued that the perspective

of the site should be designed from within the building too. People spend most of their time

within the buildings and the views from our windows can affect the way we connect with the

outside world. If the view from the window presents a building façade with graffiti or a

12

concrete slab for a playground then we may be left with a feeling of being unsafe in our own

home. On the contrary, if the view from our windows contains scenes of natural surrounds,

neighbors strolling and friends playing in the park then the desire to interact and connect

with others is enhanced. What if we designed the site based on various views from within the

home? How would that alter our perception of the community and those who live next door?

13

Chapter 2: Connecting Buildings to People

Façade Messages:

Every day we are confronted with messages about the world in which we live. We all

make conscious attempts to seek out nonverbal clues in buildings, landscapes and interiors,

because we understand that these clues tell us something about the values of those who are

associated with them.17 Therefore, it is imperative that buildings and interiors be designed

with the understanding that these places will constantly be interpreted by those on the

outside as well as those on the inside. The messages that are sent have the ability to affect

people’s perception about how they relate to their community, family, friends and even their

own self-esteem. The seemingly mundane elements of a building, such as a front door, the

materiality of both the exterior and interior, views from windows and landscaping, all send

strong messages to people about what goes on within the walls. These messages can either

be positive or negative in nature, and can affect the way we build our communities. The

following inquiry into building messages deals with both the exterior and interior.

Before we even cross the threshold of a building’s door we are confronted with

messages; some are loud and clear while others are very subtle. Buildings that have bars on

the windows, boarded up doors and graffiti tags immediately tell us that the building exists in

a state of disrepair, and that this is a dangerous place. In short it says “do not enter.” To the

other extreme a building that has a clean exterior with large windows, a maintained entrance

and decorative front door can send a message of upkeep, care and comfort; it says

“welcome, please come in.” But what about buildings that are simple in form and material,

that don’t have the signs of danger but don’t particularly have the signs of comfort either,

17 Franklin D. Becker, Housing messages, (Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross 1976),10.

14

what do they say to us? Do we even notice these buildings? Are they places we would

consider engaging with?

The original exterior façade design of Dearborn Homes expressed a mundane, simple

and cost effective approach to façade design. The standard brick, square windows and

buildings without a cornice appear to be large, lifeless boxes (Figure 11). This is not

something we would immediately associate with a home or a place where an uplifting

community environment exists. However, with a few details such as changes in materials and

a contrast of surfaces the exterior of Dearborn Homes is transformed into a charming

complex that would not, at first glance, be associated with public housing (Figure 12). After

the face lift, the buildings look like they could fit right into any northern Chicago

neighborhood rather than being located on South State Street. The message the buildings

are sending now is far more welcoming in nature and approachable. It begs the visitor to

take a moment to look up at the cornice. It is a building that has been crowned with purpose

thus sending a message to its residents that they too have a purpose and should be treated

with respect.

Another way a building can send a positive message is by thoughtful design which

respects the visual language of the surrounding buildings, while at the same time creating

visual interest that is both beautiful and unassuming. This creates a visual that connects the

residents to the greater community; it integrates the people into the neighborhood rather

than segregating them based on income. This can be seen in the façade design of Rue de

Picpus in Paris, France. (Figure 13) Here the architects seamlessly blended modern

materials and design into the traditional Haussmannian architectural language that

dominates the city of Paris. The respect of the architectural language of the neighborhood

can also be translated into the respect of the residents living in the apartments. Not only

15

does the building seem to be a natural fit to the area, it also brings its own sense of life,

adding color to a street scene in a city that can be grey for months at a time. A level of

transparency can be seen in the design. The façade is not only made up of bright, colorful

glass windows but some are sliding glass doors, which when opened up create a balcony

area within the apartment. This provides access to fresh air and the opportunity to engage

with people walking about on the street.

It is now evident that landscaping plays a major role in how people feel about the site

in which they live and it can also play a part in the message that a building sends; particularly

a building that offers a defensible zone, which consists of private yards for residents to

maintain. Providing an area for individual units to have their own outdoor space provides a

buffer between the neighborhood and the home (Figure 14). It also allows for a place to

mingle with next door neighbors or passersby, while still feeling a level of security and sense

of safety. This gesture is illustrated in the architectural renderings for the Woodlawn Center

South development, which is currently in various construction phases. An interesting element

in the plan for Woodlawn is the landscaping and development on both the street side and the

resident parking/alley side of the buildings (Figure 15). The idea behind ’defensible space’ is

the notion of providing an area for residents to personalize their physical exterior space and

provide a buffer zone between the home and the street.18 Allowing residents to choose how

their exterior space is landscaped and utilized can directly affect the way they decorate and

adorn their interior space.19 This can translate into the collective pride of a community if

every resident is directly participating in the personalization of their homes.

18 Henry G. Cisneros. Defensible Space: Deterring Crime and Building Community. United States Department of

Housing and Development. February 1995. 19 Becker. Housing Messages, (Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross 1976),11.

16

Building Program Diversity:

The exterior messages of a building are not the only ways buildings can communicate

to people. The interior of the building has the same ability to send messages and this can be

seen in the programming of the spaces, the varying scales of common areas for residents

and how the interiors are designed. Diversity among the residents should be reflected in the

diversity of the programming of the building. Buildings that provide mixed-use residential and

commercial areas are directly sending messages to the community that say “come and

participate” or “explore and be welcomed.”

One example of an open building that is diverse in its programming is the ‘8House’ by

BIG Architects, which is located in South Orestad, Denmark along the banks of the

Copenhagen Canal. The design stems from the idea that a building should be able to

accommodate homes within a big house and to establish a place where people in all stages

of life can live in a community together. The diagram illustrates the concept that was driven

by row-house typology (Figure 16). Instead of the vertical block programs of the row-house,

however, the programs in 8House are stretched out along a horizontal plane. At its most

simplified the interior court of the building is where the communal spaces are located. The

upper levels are the residential apartments and the lower levels are the commercial areas.

The building also reaches out beyond its site to the areas of the greater community via a

pathway that cuts through the site and building. Going from park area on the west of the site

to the canal on the east side, it provides a rooftop park for the public and a café is open

along the pedestrian pathway (Figure17). With the diversification of the program comes the

opportunity to connect residents with each other as well as to connect residents with

neighbors who reside in the surrounding community. Providing a place for activity to happen

17

throughout different times of the day can stimulate a positive community. 20 The diversity of

the interior programming should directly correlate with the needs of the residents as well as

the needs of the surround community. Providing an economically viable building that can

stimulate business development in the surrounding neighborhood can enhance community

development.

Scale and Location of Common Areas:

Our society puts a great emphasis on forming social connections both when

we are young children and when we are aging adults. It is essential that young developing

minds are able to learn how to navigate through social settings that are diverse and

challenging. On the other hand, the aging population of our society experiences the

challenge of their established community of friends and family disappearing physically and

mentally. The time period of life that is in between being young and growing old is often over

looked when it comes to developing a strong community within our living spaces. This

societal oversight leads to a lack of research done on how communal spaces affect the lives

of healthy middle aged adults, regardless of their income level or socio-economic status. The

need for the connections should be recognized and designed for in housing developments

that accommodate people in all stages of life. One way a diverse program can be expressed

is by varying the scales of common areas for the residents while dispersing them throughout

the building program. Also, providing areas of rest in otherwise high traffic zone can create a

moment for two neighbors to take pause and talk. These two examples are widely done in

the area of interior design for senior housing.

20 Jacobs. The Death and Life of Great American Cities, (New York: Random House), 152.

18

Common areas are defined as areas which are available to be used by multiple

people of the residence, including their guests. The areas that are considered common are:

lobbies, corridors, stairways, parking lots, courtyards, laundry rooms, and elevators,

washrooms in a lobby, fitness or event rooms, and storage rooms. However, there are

common areas within the home that should be considered in this manner as well. Those

areas are: kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, bathrooms, entry ways for the front and back

doors, passages, hallways, studies, dens and libraries.

The implementation and design of multiple common areas is necessary for the

success in creating a community within a housing residence. Providing an opportunity for

residents to engage and interact with each other in passing, or while conducting household

duties, such as laundry, picking up mail, or taking out the trash can create an environment

that is social and uplifting. There is a need to create healthy communities within the housing

market. The design of multiple common areas within a building provides spaces that will

foster the relationships that lead to strong communities.

People have a desire for both community and privacy. Research indicates that the

separation and differentiation between common areas and private spaces is essential for the

quality of life in seniors. In some instances, residents will spend most of their time in the

common living room of their assisted living home. The common living room has an

ambiguous boundary between the public and private areas, unlike the clear boundaries

characterizing a home. The relationship among the residents is fragile, and the residents who

can, withdraw from the common living room.21 Here it is made obvious that a clear division

needs to be made between the communal, semi-private and private areas of a senior

residence.

21 Hauge S, Kristin H., “The nursing home as a home: a field study of residents' daily life in the common living

rooms” Daily life in the common living rooms", (Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2007).

19

It also brings a new perspective regarding the design of a communal space for

different groups of people. It identifies that decorative elements, such as placement of

artwork or furnishings will not suffice in the design of a common area that will be stimulating

to the residents or serve a specific demographic well. Recognizing behavior patterns can

indicate the best way to design that space in a way that will facilitate communication or at

the least a gathering of individuals bonding over a shared experience.

In the mornings at the Fran and Ray Stark Villa senior living community, staff noticed

that some areas are very popular, such as the spaces for checking email and reading the

newspaper. The staff suggested combing the spaces into more functional larger spaces

bringing the two groups of people together.22 One way to realize the idea of the senior home

as a ‘home’ is to define the common living room as a clear public area in order to give the

residents a chance to develop a more private lifestyle by alternating between their private

rooms and a common living room.23

In addition to the lobbies and other large common areas, smaller and more intimate

spaces allow residents more opportunities to engage with each other. These spaces are

comfortable, receive quality daylight and provide a setting for interactions. The smaller

common areas may include a library, den, study, breakfast area or craft room.24 At the

Newbury Court Retirement Community in Concord, Massachusetts the entire first floor is

dedicated as a commons. Within the lobby there is seating, just off to the side of the main

entrance is a family gathering spot; there is a library, lounge/café, a gallery with seating,

parlor/living room, central dining room, multipurpose / media room, mail room, and several

22 Jeffery W. Anderzhon, Ingrid L. Farely, Mitch Green, Design for aging post-occupancy evaluations: lessons

learned from senior living environments featured in the AIA's Design for Aging Review. (Hoboken: John Wiley &

Sons, 2007). 23 Hauge, Solveig, and Heggen Kristin, "The nursing home as a home: a field study of residents? Daily life in the

common living rooms", (Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2007). 24 William Brummett, The essence of home: design solutions for assisted living housing. (New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold.,1997), 96.

20

larger ballrooms.25 A varied program is important to consider when designing common areas

where the residents may come from diverse backgrounds, such as mixed socio-economic

classes. Diversity in common areas will be able to successfully accommodate and reflect the

diversity in the residents.

The very act of cooking can nourish the soul and stimulate the senses. The

opportunity to cook for others can be a refreshing experience. To cook with someone else

can attain a level of intimacy that the casual mail room encounter will never achieve. This is

why the concept of an engaging kitchen is of interest for the consideration of common areas

within a housing residence. An example of this type of common kitchen area can be seen at

the Rosewood Estates located in Maplewood, Minnesota. Within the community room, there

is a fully equipped kitchen that serves as a gathering spot for residents and staff to

participate in simple cooking and baking; it also serves events held in the community room.26

When observing communal kitchens in senior living residences the benefits on the

resident is obvious. The therapeutic benefits of affording and engaging residents, friends and

family in familiar, homelike tasks, such as cooking and baking include the following:

stimulation and challenge, ability maintenance and enhancing, casual opportunities for

socialization, connections to fond and rewarding memories, and an increased sense of

productivity, value and belonging.27 Along with the many benefits outlined in the study, the

very nature of the engaging kitchen as a common area lends itself to becoming an

educational facility and local community space for those neighboring the residence. If the

kitchen space is designed in a public setting style, it can serve as an outreach to the

neighborhood. The same thinking should be considered when designing and planning the

25 Brummett, The essence of home: design solutions for assisted living housing. (New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold.,1997), 131. 26 Anderzhon, Farely, Green, Design for aging post-occupancy evaluations: lessons learned from senior living

environments featured in the AIA's Design for Aging Review. (Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2007). 27 Brummett, The essence of home: design solutions for assisted living housing. (New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold.,1997), 97

21

kitchen within the home. It is the most public of spaces that we experience in the home and

one place which many identify with security and nourishment.

The nature of an unexpected gathering space can provide a common area for people

to engage with one another. These areas can be found in beautiful and enjoyable stairways,

corridors or places of pause. These places can be very informal and striped down but at the

same time they can provide an intimate encounter. If stairs are designed well and beautifully

people will use them – it is the reason why attention should be paid to the stairway and other

means of navigating a space. Lacking an open staircase which links and orients a multistory

facility vertically denies both the understanding of the place and the opportunity for preview

to happen vertically as well as horizontally.28 In addition, the thoughtful design of resting

places and alcoves throughout the circulation will create another unexpected common area.

In the Corvallis Assisted Living home in Corvallis, Oregon, a built-in seat is offered at the mid-

landing of the main stair, with views into the coffee house. This presents an enjoyable place

to rest and converse along the route.29 When designing a senior living residence a successful

design will have alcoves, edges and transition spaces, and corridor-intervening spaces to

provide places for needed rest and relaxation along the horizontal and vertical circulations

routes. 30

After a review of the studies done regarding the positive effects of the interior design

of common areas for senior homes, it is evident that the same approach can be applied

when designing common areas of residences for multi-family housing communities. The

need for building a community should not be directly correlated with being young or old, but

rather should be facilitated throughout one’s entire life. The design of a space that initiates

28 Brummett, The essence of home: design solutions for assisted living housing. (New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold.,1997), 131 29 Brummett, The essence of home: design solutions for assisted living housing. (New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold.,1997), 94 30 Brummett, The essence of home: design solutions for assisted living housing. (New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold.,1997), 94

22

communication and builds relationships among people will provide a healthy and safe

lifestyle for those who live in the residence, regardless of their age. It is important to design

larger spaces that are layered with different functions in addition to including smaller, more

intimate common areas. Providing a common area that can serve as a community space for

the neighborhood can extend the outreach to a healthy and safe area beyond the walls of the

residence.

23

Chapter 3: Connecting People to People

Site Selection:

One way a community can manifest through design, is by having people make a

physical or emotional connection to their space is. Connections can appear on many scales

such as the layout and space planning of a home, the orientation of a building to its

neighborhood and the relationship people form with the built environment. The possibility of

interacting with others plants the seed of community. Interior design is one area where a

great impact can be made on the people living in a residential development. It can facilitate

how the people connect with their next door neighbors as well as the greater community.

Currently we design for community development from the exterior, through site planning and

architecture. Infrastructure, parks, landscaping, site design, and public spaces all receive

attention but what if a community was designed from the inside out? How would our

perception of our neighborhood change? Would our behavior towards our neighbors be

different if the view from our living room inspired a connection to others?

Based on the parameters of the conducted research, which included site planning,

building messages, programming and varying scales of common areas, the first step in the

design process was the site selection. In order to narrow down the physical location of the

site selection I returned to my research and selected Dearborn Homes as the northern

boundary and Woodlawn Center South as the southern boundary. Lake Michigan served as

the eastern boundary and the Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstates 90/94) served as the

western boundary (Figure 18). There are many neighborhoods that reside within the

parameters. Neighborhoods like Bronzeville, Hyde Park and Woodlawn are in the area. The

neighborhood I was looking for had to fulfill some additional criteria beyond the functions

typically associated with communities, which are schools, police, fire, transportation,

24

businesses, and child care. There were additional characteristics I was looking for, which

included new businesses among old buildings, a connection to public housing, proximity to

thriving and re-gentrified neighborhoods and it needed to be an area that had a story of its

own. The neighborhood selected was Washington Park.

The Washington Park neighborhood owes its moniker to the Chicago Parks District,

Washington Park, which is bordered by 51st to the North, 60th Street to the South, Martin

Luther King Drive to the West and South Cottage Grove to the East. The park was designed

by Fredrick Law Olmstead 1870 and built in 1872. There are many stories about the history

of the park, which is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The neighborhood itself has a strong history. For instance, the park is home to the

Fountain of Time sculpture, which is the largest finished concrete work of art in the world and

it is the location of the DuSable Museum of African American History.31 The neighborhood

has experienced several cultural transitions, beginning with the Irish and German immigrants

in the late eighteenth century, then it transitioned rather quickly into an area for African

Americans to settle post World War II and by the late nineteenth century the area was

predominately African American, which remains true to this day.32

The neighborhood fell into disrepair after the exodus of people and industries

happened. In 1962 it became home to the Robert Taylor Homes and eventually the

community’s identity went from one of prosperity to one of crime and poverty.33 Since then

buildings in the area have become dilapidated, vacant lots dominate the landscape and

31 “Washington Park”, Encyclopedia of Chicago, Accessed on May 9, 2012,

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1321.html 32 “Washington Park”, Encyclopedia of Chicago, Accessed on May 9, 2012,

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1321.html 33 “Washington Park”, Encyclopedia of Chicago, Accessed on May 9, 2012,

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1321.html

25

residents are weary from the crime and violence that has taken hold of the neighborhood

(Figure 19). There is however, one building in the neighborhood that has a personality of its

own and it sends a message of pride making this location the ideal site. That building is the

Schulze Baking Company Plant, which is located on the corner of South State Street and

Garfield Boulevard (Figure 20). When looking east across Wabash Avenue, there are signs of

life and little hubs for community: Ms. Biscuit and Dylan’s Ribs and Car Wash. These

establishments are the essence of grassroots community development and they are the

types of establishments that could greatly benefit from a large scale community development

project, such as my design for the Schulze Baking Company plant.

Building Story:

Originally built between 1913 and 1914 by architect John Aschlager and Son, the

Schulze Baking Company plant is one that has many historical factors and design elements,

making it accessible to the surrounding community to connect with the building. Built using

concrete slab construction methods, the site consists of three main buildings: a five story

section, a three story truss system section, horse stable, and delivery truck garage.34 During

1936, an expansive truss system building was constructed on the land in between the plant

and stables/delivery truck garage making it a seamless structure that runs along Wabash

from Garfield Boulevard to 54th Street (Figure 21).35 The Schulze Baking Company Plant’s

exterior façade is one of great significance in regards to building messages. The building is

the first of its kind in the baking industry to be designed as a way to convey to the community

34 Arthur Talbot and Willis Slater, “Tests of Reinforced Concrete Flat Slab Structures”, University of Illinois

Engineering Experiment Station Bulletin 84(1916): 61.

35 Talbot and Slater, “Tests of Reinforced Concrete Flat Slab Structures”, University of Illinois Engineering

Experiment Station Bulletin , 61.

26

that the Schulze Baking Company was the best in the industry (Figure 22 &23).36 The

Schulze Baking Company plant was an advertising campaign and designed specifically to be

different from the standard red brick box manufacturing plants which were common at the

time. The clear suggestion made was that such a public figure of integrity, visibility and

culture could clearly be trusted to bake families’ bread. 37 Paul Schulze used the baking plant

building to speak to the community in the past and it can be used today to send a similar

message.

To this day the Schulze Baking Company plant is a beacon of hope in a distressed

neighborhood. Comments made by residents of the neighborhood on the Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) website regarding a 2008 proposal to redevelop the building articulates

the need and desire that this community has for rebuilding and restoring their identity. One

comment made by submitted an individual on July 11, 2009, summarizes the sentiments of

many, “The Schulze Bakery Company restoration provides an opportunity for the old to

embrace the new and thereby change a community. The concept for housing and community

services in a historic setting is artistic and realistic in a space that lacks color and beauty

today. I do hope it happens. This project fills the need for housing and preservation. The two

belong together.”

In addition to the history and connection to the community, the building site is large

enough to accommodate a diverse program and a site area large enough for landscaping

design. Overall, the Schulze Baking Company plant site presents everything necessary to

kick start a community to develop.

36 “A Trip Through the New Schulze Bakery”, Baker’s Review32 (1915):35-39. 37 Schulze, Paul, “Business Personality As An Asset, The Character of the Organization Behind Quality,” Baker’s

Weekly, 17 (13 May 1916): 37-38, 44

27

Site Landscaping & Design:

Inviting a neighborhood to engage with a building that is home to a diverse group of

people and businesses has the ability to strengthen the community. Taking cues from the

previous cases studies involving programming, I designed the building in a way to provide a

diverse selection of amenities such as a market, childcare/preschool facility, theater, pub,

green house, open courtyards, public laundry facilities, café, residential learning center and

party room (Figure 24). The building engages the neighborhood and provides a sense of

pride for the residents. Mixed-use buildings offer a variety of nodes of activity, which are

important for the vibrancy of life within a community. If you see your friend walking into the

theater you may call out to them and have a chat before heading up to your home to be with

your family. Just as important are the one on one moment with neighbors the quiet moments

within a larger community are just as important.

Not only does the Schulze Baking Company plant have an exceptional façade made

up of white glazed brick, granite, marble, and terra cotta (Figure 25) it has a site large

enough to articulate the various site landscaping and plans necessary to open up the area

and welcome the neighborhood to engage with the building. A varying degree of public, semi-

private and private areas are important for people to feel secure in their surroundings.

However, the degree in which we start to blur the lines of public and semi-private may be a

key factor in facilitating community among residents of a building and the surrounding

neighborhood. Passage ways that lead into courtyards landscaped with trees, native species,

and areas for sitting can be a few of the scenes perfect for a chance encounter with a

neighbor or stranger.

The design of the site integrates a park like environment providing residents with a

shared yard and private deck spaces. Here is an example of blurring the lines of public and

28

semi-public spaces. The shared yard area is in effect the idea of the back yard. I chose to flip

the privacy of the back yard and front door because the back yard is where most of the family

gathering and activities happen. By opening it up to the other neighbors and the public in

general allows for more possibilities of interactions among residents and neighbors. Two

additional components to the site design are the passageways and thresholds throughout

the site. Being able to travel easily from end of the site to the other while still maintaining a

clear distinction between residential and community areas was of the utmost importance.

Having a clear distinction between the dual natures of the building, residential and

commercial areas, gives privacy to residents and provides varying areas of defensible space.

It also allows for special areas for the residents only and added layers of security. In addition

to the shared yard area, a park with basketball courts and a safe playground for younger

children has been incorporated into the design (Figure 26). In this area of the design,

attention to the tree densities and orderly arrangement of the trees was a direct result from

the research done on the effects of landscaping in urban environments.

The significance of a landscaped site that provides passage ways which engage the

neighborhood and residents is one that should be noted. It can be uplifting to people and

provide a sense of safety. A visual connection to nature and experiencing the cycle of life can

have a profound effect on people too. A residential site that is well cared for on the outside

sends a visual message that those who are living there take care of their homes the same

way. Programming and landscaping the site of a residence that will facilitate connections

among neighbors throughout a community is just the beginning of truly designing a building

that can have a greater impact.

29

Common Area | Large Scale |Atrium:

As I discovered throughout my research, there is a missing element in the

conversation of community development and that is the role of interior design. At the core of

a community are the individuals. Without a collection of individuals connecting to one

another through a common bond, a community does not exist. A group of people living in a

building is community at its most superficial level. In order for a group of people to become a

‘neighborhood’ within a building they must be able to make connections with each other at

varying times throughout the day, in different locations of the main building or even just

watching the street through the window from within the home. Through many interactions,

strangers’ faces become familiar which can lead to small talk, then the exchanging of names

and ultimately a friendship can evolve. Through the interior design of the common areas

within the building and of the private homes connections among people can be made that

will spur the growth of a community.

One of the first decisions in the design of the building was to carve out areas in order

to create courtyards, which provide views of landscaping and other activity going on outside.

The carving out of atriums in order to bring natural daylight into the building was another

important step in the initial phase of the design. This also allowed for an opportunity to

create an indoor park giving residents a direct connection with nature year round. With a

building of this size only a few areas received ample amounts of day lighting (Figure 27) so it

was necessary to create large areas where residents could gather that was full of natural

light and landscaping as well. The decorative façade elements have been abstracted on a

variety of scales and designed throughout the atrium, within the flooring patterns, custom

built-ins and even into the passageways throughout the site (Figure 28). The only two areas

within the interior of the building that are historically preserved are the two main staircases

30

and the railing became a design element used in the atrium. (Figure 29) Bringing in elements

of the exterior façade into the interior design of the building is a way to connect the historical

significance of the building to the residents.

In order to make a connection with someone within a residential environment we

must encounter people on a daily basis. Whether it be walking from the car to the front door,

riding the elevator, getting the mail, or taking the kids to school the more you pass by your

neighbors the more comfortable you become engaging with them. The smiles and waves turn

into hellos and goodbyes, the holding of doors and assisting with groceries turn into favors of

picking up the mail or babysitting the neighbors’ kids and all of these acts can be

encouraged simply by the layout and design of the overall residence. These elements

stimulated the design of the atrium as the central connecting place between the three story

portion of the residential building and the five story portion (Figure 30).

It was important to provide an area with a purpose where people would interact with

the space on a daily basis, which is why the mail room is located in the atrium. Creating

places of pause is one way interior design can create possibilities of connections for people.

A design which contains elements that make people stop in their path, look up or around,

and wonder has the potential to spark a conversation among two people. There are many

areas within the atrium where a person can physically and visually connect with the space,

as well as with other people when traveling from one end of the building to the other. One

factor in the design of the atrium was to provide a place for people to stay and linger. The

park like environment became overall concept for the design because it is the perfect setting

for people to stay awhile. This design also fulfilled the desire to provide access to nature year

round (Figure 31). The atrium also provides many opportunities to make visual connections,

which can be seen from the second and third floors (Figure 32).

31

Varying scales of common areas throughout the residential building was one of the

lessons learned from the previous case studies, which is why located within the grand three

story atrium is the mail room. This room is secluded from the rest of the atrium to provide a

more intimate experience and privacy for residents when they come to collect their mail. This

area also provided the perfect background to incorporate a mural that visually tells the

history of Washington Park during the years when the Schulze Baking Company plant was

originally built (Figure 33).

Flanking the east and west sides of the atrium are additional common areas for

residents and the public alike. To the east is the laundry room which opens up to a café. It

was the hope that by combining a mundane residential chore with the opportunity to interact

with neighbors, or just be alone amongst others, would give the laundry experience a

different meaning. In addition the café would provide an opportunity for residents of the

building or those who live in the neighborhood a place to work that is close to home. The café

can be accessed from the entrance on the community deck as well as from within the atrium.

The café would have regular business hours so as to not disturb residents. The laundry room

would be accessible to the public until the closing time of the café; it would accessible 24

hours a day to residents only. Directly above the laundry room and café, located on the

second floor, is the workout facility. The workout facility is free to the residents and is open to

the public for a small membership fee. On the west side of the atrium is where the

community learning center is located. Computer workstations, large tables for gatherings and

quiet areas to work are all amenities of this area on the first floor. Providing an area for

residents and neighbors to be able to access job listings, update resumes, work on home

work and study provides a different way for people to assist one another. Located on the

second floor, above the learning center, is the community party room and roof-top garden.

With a kitchen as the only fixed element, this room is open and free to transform into an area

32

that can accommodate a community group meeting or a child’s birthday party. Access to the

roof-top garden provides residents with a different view of their neighborhood and allows

those who live in the five-story building an outdoor space to personalize.

The Homes:

Atrium Apartments:

Providing a residential living experience that can attract and cater to a diverse group

of people ranging in age, race and socioeconomic class is one of the ways interior design can

assist in community development. One element taken from the Rue de Picpus case study

was the variety of apartment layouts. By having to work within the constraints of the site

location, the architects were able to design buildings that allowed them to vary the

apartment layouts from floor to floor. It was an inspiring idea to consider, the design was

recognized that unique people are living in the building and that each apartment is in turn

unique as well.

Since the neighborhood of Washington Park is in close proximity to the University of

Chicago, one of the resident profiles explored in the design of the apartments was that of two

roommates. It is the hope that a project of this capacity would reach out beyond the

immediate neighborhood and attract young, educated adults attending the University to

engage with Washington Park community. The Schulze Baking Company can become home

to many different types of individuals and a destination for the neighboring community by

providing housing options which include studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments

in conjunction with the commercial amenities (Figures 34 & 35). All apartments have

uniquely designed staircases that provide a visual and physical connection between the

33

sleeping area and the public area (Figure 35). Additionally, the inclusion of double-height

entry ways provided an opportunity to create a clearstory of windows that bring light in from

the atrium during the day and light from the apartments into the lobby during the evening. At

any moment during the day you are visually connected to neighbors when in the five-story

building (Figure 28).

Courtyard Apartments:

As one travels from the community garden, through the public courtyard and into the

residential courtyards, one is immediately taken into an area that feels like a back entrance

but is in fact a shared front yard. This area is beautifully landscaped with pathways that lead

right up to the front door of four different homes. Providing a secured entrance to a person’s

home was important in the layout of the site, which is why the residents’ only courtyard is

accessible via an electronic key which opens a gate that keeps the private area secured from

the public area. Taking cues from site planning, circulation, programming and common areas

I designed all of the apartments to have public, semi-public and private areas. The

programming of the example apartment includes an entryway, living room, powder room,

kitchen and dining room on the first floor and three bedrooms, one bathroom and one

master suite with bathroom (Figure 36).

Since thresholds transition us from one state of being to another it is an important

element to consider in the interior design of a home. The entryway of the apartment became

a strong location within the apartment and acts as a buffer area between the heart of the

home and the community on the outside (Figure 37). Within the entry of the apartment there

is a seating area which simulates a front porch feeling due to the sofa facing a large window

that looks out in the private courtyard. This area can act as place to watch children play in a

34

safe area. The entryway also has custom designed shelves for residents to put their personal

objects for others to see. There are also two small built-in bench seats with mirrors which can

provide an area for people to get ready before they head out the door or a place to set their

things after coming in from outside. There are two directions that one can take when leaving

the entryway: into the living room or into the dining room. It was my intention to allow the

entryway to transition into a small parlor-like room and be used in conjunction with the dining

room for a more formal setting for a gathering. This decision also allows for the whole first

floor to have an open circulation without any dead ends, which is why there are two rooms

adjacent and open to the entryway.

Once you have entered the home and prepared yourself for the transition, the next

threshold is the living room (Figure 38). As you enter the living room you are immediately

able to see the large windows that open up to the private deck and community garden area.

You are also able to see both the staircase and the kitchen area. The decision to have a

strong axis between the private and public areas of the home means that one must travel

through the common rooms and potentially engage with their family members at any given

moment. The custom-designed staircase again provides an area for the family to showcase

their belongings and sentimental objects (Figure 39). It also has a designed landing that has

bench seating by a large window: perfect for reading or day dreaming while gazing out the

window. Alternatively on the other side of the room, the view of the living room and kitchen is

what you get when you travel down the stairs from the sleeping area of the apartment. It was

important to provide a warm and welcoming area as the first destination one arrives at after

time spent upstairs (Figure 40).

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home and it too can be seen from

within the entryway (Figure 41). The ability to see many areas from one vantage point is best

35

expressed in the kitchen (Figure 42). It is within this room that one has a view of the

entryway, dining room, living room, staircase, powder room, deck and community garden. The

kitchen has a built-in kitchen island in the central area and a breakfast bar near the sliding

glass doors for the deck. The two different areas provide more surfaces to utilize during

different social scenarios. In addition, I chose to leave a large area of the kitchen open

without any furniture to encourage circulation and mingling between the dining room and the

kitchen. In addition, the island acts as a buffer between the production and cooking area and

the entertaining area.

The dining room access from the entry-way strategically allows the apartment to

transform from a lively family oriented home to a more sophisticated and elegant setting

(Figure 43). One can arrange the entry to accommodate guests of a dinner party which will

direct the foot traffic from the entry into the dining room. Once in the dining room the privacy

glass doors can be closed to visually close off the kitchen while still allowing light to travel

into the room. Or they can be left open to extend the dining room experience into the kitchen

(Figure 44).Transitioning from the one-story entry to the two-story dining room is an uplifting

experience. The eye is immediately drawn upwards towards the sculptural light fixture

suspended above, and then to the two balcony areas upstairs. A pair of French doors and a

railing create a “Juliet” balcony in the master suite, while two bedroom doors open up to a

veranda-like experience with views of the chandelier and windows into the atrium (Figure

44).

36

Conclusion:

People are by nature social and there are many more ways in which people connect

with others. We create families, gather as congregations for ceremonies, and cheer a sports

team onto victory. Even in solitude through the act of reading for instance, we are still able to

form a connection to another person. What is interesting is that there seems to be a ‘place’

in which we associate the connections we form with other people. A home is connected to

the family, a church is connected to the congregation, a stadium is connected to the sports

fans, and a nook with comfortable seating is connected to the reader. So what is it about a

place that helps us form a connection to another person? Let’s look at the example of a nook

with comfortable seating and the reader. The nook is a not so obvious way to influence how

one will form connections with others but in this very spot a person can feel safe,

comfortable and open to the world outside, while being with oneself on the inside. The ability

to connect inward will strengthen the ability to connect outward. Providing spaces for a

person to carve out and personalize can stimulate the desire to connect with people. When

we are able to form a connection with a place we are able to create a way of identifying

ourselves within the world outside our front door.

Enveloping that nook is a home and the home is the place where you learn to

connect with other people from birth. We learn to make sensory associations with our home

and those who live in it; we learn boundary lines pertaining to space, such as parent’s

bedroom versus the family room. Also, we learn how to walk through the home on a practical

and accessible level, and then how to navigate the space depending on our emotional needs.

In the beginning we learn the walking path that is the safest route to take, one that is free of

sharp corners and edges but by our very nature we set out exploring. The discovery of

stairways, doors, closets and corners is exciting and a way for us to understand our space in

37

order to establish a connection. We form our earliest memories in the home and the home is

where we establish our first sense of belonging to a community, which is the family unit.

Families are dynamic living scenarios. Just because individuals are related does not

guarantee that the living environment is perfect. When the home is designed to

accommodate the needs of different individuals living together as one family, it can assist in

the desire to create a sense of community within a society. The pathway we travel through

the home can subconsciously affect the path we take as we navigate the streets outside our

front door, even the choices we make in life. In a home, if the path to the front door is long

and straight, with low ceilings, without natural light and lacks a connection to the common

areas of the home, the most likely route one would take is straight down the hall and right

out the front door. Your head may be held down low because of the low ceilings, your eyes

fixated on the front door and walking at a pace that is quick because the monotony of the

hallway chases you out of the front door. This is how you enter the world: head hung low,

eyes fixated straight ahead and a quick walking pace – none of this body language or

behavior triggers a connection with another human being. What it says to the world is, “don’t

talk to me, I am going somewhere in a hurry and I don’t have any interest in you”. Imagine

spending your entire day in that physical and mental state of mind only to return home to

that very same long, low, dark and uninteresting hallway that ends with another door, but this

time it is the door to your bedroom. The same procession starts all over again as you walk

down the hallway – the “don’t talk to me, I am going somewhere in a hurry and I don’t have

any interest in you” – this mentality is carried right into the bedroom. This is one of the few

places a person should be able to feel most at ease and most comfortable.

Let’s take the same characteristics of the hallway but this time let’s say the entrance

area by the front door has a bench for putting on shoes, hooks for coats, hats and keys, and

38

a mirror to catch a glimpse of your reflection smiling before you exit your home. You may

change the way to walk down the hallway as you approach the entry knowing there is a place

for you to take pause and transition from your home out into the world. This place, the entry,

is the threshold. A moment of time spent in a threshold has the ability to establish the energy

that you will carry with you into the world. All journeys in life have look out points, rest areas

and the occasional flat tire on the side of the road, but these are all places along the path

that give you a moment to stop, reflect, see, feel and think. People need these places

throughout the buildings they live, work and play. We all have moments in our life when we

need to call a time-out or pull over and rest. A place of reprise is often hard to establish if we

don’t have a connection to our home. It is here where the interior designer is of great

importance. It is our expertise that can read a building foot print and then proceed to shape

and form the interior into places where people can thoughtfully engage, navigate, connect

and live with each other.

Designing for connections within the home allows for the possibility of making

connections with neighbors in a number of places, such as the mailroom within the atrium,

the café while doing a load of laundry, or in the learning center while working on the

computer. It is essential that we design for a community on a variety of scales. Community

designs need to range from the most intimate, which is within the home, to the way the

residential portion of the building connects to the commercial portion, the circulation of

pathways and thresholds, and finally the way the building and site emotionally and physically

connect to the surrounding neighborhood. Without considering the interior design of a

building and the homes within, only a portion of community development is being explored.

The way we navigate and experience the interior of the home greatly impacts how we

connect with the built environment on a daily basis. This can directly translate to how we

39

interact with family, friends and strangers. A positive connection within a residential setting

can be associated with the development of positive communities; therefore it is necessary to

bring the practice of thoughtful, humanistic and well researched interior design to the

process of community development.

40

Figure 1: Dearborn Homes, Chicago, IL | pre-2011 renovation

Figure 2: View sheds From the Four Selected Vantage Points of Robert Taylor Homes

41

Figure 3: Mean Preference and Safety Ratings for the Three Tree Densities of Robert Taylor

Homes

Figure 4: Site Plane of Woodlawn Center South Phase 1 development

42

Figure 5: Rendering of Woodlawn Center South Phase 1 development

Figure 6: Dearborn Homes cr. 2011

43

Figure 7: Residents Gardening at Dearborn Homes cr. 195o

Figure 8: Rue de Picpus, Paris France | Site Plan Diagram

Apartments | Floors 2-6

Handicapped Accessible Apartments

Inner garden, Resident Courtyard & Street Access

44

Figure 9: Ground level | Rue de Picpus | Visual sight line from the street side to the private

garden dissects the residential courtyard.

Private garden Picpus

Street

Figure 10: Rue de Picpus | Inner Courtyard | Sliding windows on left & balconies on right

45

Figure 11: Dearborn Homes during pre-façade constructions phase.

Figure 12: Dearborn Homes with façade updates

46

Figure 13: Paris, France | Rue de Picpus, Public Housing Apartments

Figure 14: Chicago, IL | Woodlawn Center South | Cottage Grove Street

47

Figure 15: Woodlawn Center South | Resident Parking & Alley

Figure 16: Diagram for 8House, the orientation of the diagram also illustrates the location of

the communal spaces located in the center crossing, the circulation pathways, and building

orientation for sunlight.

48

Figure 17: ‘8’ House | Café and pedestrian walk wraps around the building to encourage

community activity

49

Figure 18: Neighborhood Site Research Diagram

Figure 19: Analysis of Community Services and Neighborhood Amenities

* Former site of Robert Taylor Homes

50

Figure 20: Building to Site Relationship

Figure 21: Section Analysis

Bakery Production Conveyor Belt 1936 Addition

Horse Stables & Truck Garage

51

Figure 22: Image of plant cr. 1915 | Baker’s Review

52

Figure 23: Existing Conditions of the Schulze Baking Company plant

Figure 24: Diversity in Programming

53

Figure 25: Exterior Details of Exisiting Conditions

54

Figure 26: Site Plan Illustration: Common yards for residents, various passages throughout

the site from all sides, as well as passages connecting the residential building to the

buildings open to the public.

55

Figure 27: Interior of 5 story and 3 story buildings | Existing Conditions

56

Figure 28: Main Floor | Blue – Residential | Grey – Main Circulation Route | Green – Interior

& Exterior Landscape | Pink – Community Areas (Laundry, Café and Learning Center

57

Figure 29: Historically Significant Staircase and Column Detail | Existing Conditions

58

Figure 30: Elevation and Plan of Atrium | Floor plan illustrates the areas where people can

interact with each other where it be passing by on your way home or stopping to talk to a

neighbor

*mail area

59

Figure 31: Incorporating landscaping, areas to sit and rest, moveable furniture and sculptural

elements were done in order to great an indoor park for the residents to be able to enjoy year

round. It also provides a safe passageway where residents can travel from common area to

another.

60

Figure 32: View of the Atrium from the second floor of the five story building. Allowing views

at a variety of levels gives residents an opportunity to enjoy the view when traveling from

their front door to the elevators or a place to stop and engage with others who are down

below.

61

Figure 33: View of the mural depicting neighboring Washington Park during the early 1900’s.

This mural tells the history of the neighborhood and provides a beautiful landscape image.

Behind the mural wall is where the resident mailboxes are located.

62

Figure 34: Two Bedroom apartments coupled with a close proximity to a market and

entertainment within the commercial portion of the building provide the perfect living

scenario for college age roommates. Double height entry ways provides an opportunity to

design a clearstory of windows that allows light to travel to and from the apartments.

63

Figure 35: Providing apartments that can cater to adults at varying stages of their lives is one

way to diversify communities. Having apartments that engage the resident with the interior of

the building as well as giving multiple opportunities to have views outside provide eyes on

the street, which can contribute to the safety and wellbeing of the community.

64

Figure 36: A four bedroom apartment, which has a program that includes an entryway, living

room, kitchen, powder room and dining room on the first floor as well as three bedrooms and

a bathroom and master suite upstairs. In addition, areas such as the built-in custom stair

case, reading nook on the stair landing and balcony overlooking the dining room are just

some of the added elements that give each apartment its own identity.

65

Figure 37: The entryway with built-in seating and shelving to provide areas for people to take

pause and collect themselves before entering and leaving the home. Color pallet and

materials are included in diagram.

66

Figure 38: Connecting Entry to Living Room

67

Figure 39: Connecting the Kitchen to the Living Room

Figure 40: Connecting the upstairs with the downstairs

68

Figure 41: Connecting the Entry to the Kitchen

Figure 42: Connecting the Kitchen to the Dining Room, Living Room and Entry

69

Figure 43: Connecting the Entry to the Dining Room

Figure 44: Dining room with views of the master suite “Juliet” balcony and overlook from the

bedroom corridor.

70

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Presentation Transcript | April 20, 2012

Good Morning! I first want to thank my committee members, whose support, encouragement

and enthusiasm has made this an extraordinary experience.

Today I am going to talk about community development and more specifically about how the

interior design of a place can facilitate connections among people, which can then in turn

contribute to the development of a positive and uplifting community. I am going to review the

major areas of my research, which were public housing communities both here and abroad

and senior housing communities and then I am going to take you on a tour of my design

project.

We design communities because it makes sense to us. But, how we define community can

determine how we go about designing for one. In order to understand how to design for a

community we must fist consider the dual nature of the word, the preposition of the COM is

Latin for “Together” and UN or UNUS in Latin translates into “One” but there is another

component to community and that is UNITY, which can also be defined as harmony. Harmony

is a key component in how to design for communities and it can affect how a group of

individuals relate to one another. Without harmony an unorganized collection of individuals

merely creates a mob not a community, so simply stating it … ONE PLUS MANY EQUALS ONE

HARMONIOUS COMMUNITY.

Another driving force in designing for a community is understanding the need. Why bother?

Why is it important to design thoughtful communities where people of all races, socio-

economic class and cultures can come togethre? Well, as human beings, the desire to

connect with other people is what motivates us to be a part of a community, it is what we are

neuro-bilogically wired to do.

Isolation can happen in many ways and one way that it occurs is in the built environment.

Architecture, infrastructure and urban development can all play a role in either connecting

individuals or isolating them. Buildings send messages to us. Some say KEEP OUT while

others say WELCOME. The following case studies all have a remaining constant in them and

that is they are housing communities that have government subsidies… this was an

important factor in my parameters of research. I wanted a cross sampling of communities

that were all completely designed and ones that were diverse culturally.

The ‘8’ House – diversity in programming typologies, open and transparent to the site and

people

Armstrong Place – diversity in scale of common areas, both interior and exterior, for the

residents

Dearborn Homes – Site planning development to include a public park and public school,

exterior façade face lift transformed the building message

Woodlawn Center - mixed-use programming, mixed income residences and mixed age –

integration of seniors into the development

Rue de Picpu – Finally, it wasn’t enough to just visit and understand what was being done

here in Chicago but I needed to go abroad, specifically Paris, to see if what was being doing

internationally could be applied here. After studying this building and meeting the architects I

learned the importance of connections. Connections the buildings make to each other on a

site, the connections the residents make with one another and connections the building

makes with the neighborhood.

DESIGN CONCEPT – Connections can appear on many scales such as the layout and space

planning of a home, the orientation of a building on a site and how people relate to the

building. Essentially the main connections are Building to Site, People to Building and People

to People.

It is through the possibility of connections with others that the seed of community is planted.

When it came time to select a site I went back to my research and selected Dearborn Homes

and Woodlawn Center South as my North – South boundaries. And I also selected Lake

Michigan and the Dan Ryan Expressway as my East – West boundaries.

Finally I arrived at Washington Park, which is a neighborhood full of historical and cultural

elements but is currently lacking in areas that we commonly associate with community, such

as schools, businesses, access to fresh food, etc. but something else struck me about this

neighborhood and that was the abundance of vacant lots.

After visiting the neighborhood I compiled my criteria for a building and made my decision on

the Schulze Baking Company Plant, which is on the National Registry of Historic Buildings.

The building is a white terra cotta structure designed by John Ahlschlager in 1914. The terra

cotta walls are five storys high.. The building featured blue lettering,

foliated cornice ornamentation, and stringcourses of rosettes. The building uses 700

windows grouped to complement the ornamentation's allusion to themes of nature and

purity. The ornamentation is considered abstract, Sullivanesque and modern. The company

used Apron conveyor manufactured by the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus,

Ohio.[11] A lengthy low industrial complex extends northward behind the main five-story

building.

The structure has a flat concrete slab floor with four-way reinforcement designed to support

300 pounds per square inch. The dimensions of the building are roughly 298 feet by 160

feet.

When programming the building I took elements I learned from the ‘8’ House and Woodlawn

Center South and included a variety of commercial, community and public components.

When designing the site plan I took elements from Dearborn Homes, Armstrong Place and

Rue de Picpus and created a park like environment that has direct axis views and passages

for the residents and the neighborhood.

BUILDING WALK THROUGH SLIDES

Conclusion: As you can see, designing for connections within the home allows for the

possibility of making connections with others in places like the Atrium. It is essential that we

design communities on a variety of scales. Ranging from the most intimate, which is the

home, to the building’s connections, thresholds and passage ways to the physical and

emotional relationship the building has to the site and neighborhood and finally the

messages the building ultimately sends to the greater community.